초록 ▼

A hovercraft includes a lift air supply source having a dynamic air flow area in communication with a central lift air chamber to provide continuous air flow to the central lift air chamber and a static air flow area in communication with an inflatable skirt extending around a periphery of the hover

A hovercraft includes a lift air supply source having a dynamic air flow area in communication with a central lift air chamber to provide continuous air flow to the central lift air chamber and a static air flow area in communication with an inflatable skirt extending around a periphery of the hovercraft. Air flow from the static air flow area enters the skirt to replenish air leaking from the skirt. The static air flow area has less air flow than the dynamic air flow area. The static air flow area is located at a higher position than the dynamic air flow area to reduce the likelihood of water entering the inflatable skirt when the hovercraft is operated on water.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A hovercraft comprising: a hull having a base including a forward end, a rear end, and a central opening;a thrust air supply source coupled to the hull adjacent the rear end;an inflatable skirt coupled to an outer periphery of the base to define a central lift air chamber under the hull;a lift ai

1. A hovercraft comprising: a hull having a base including a forward end, a rear end, and a central opening;a thrust air supply source coupled to the hull adjacent the rear end;an inflatable skirt coupled to an outer periphery of the base to define a central lift air chamber under the hull;a lift air supply source coupled to the hull, the lift air supply source including a lift air shroud coupled to the hull, the lift air shroud is in fluid communication with the central opening of the base and positioned fully forward of a cockpit, the lift air shroud being divided into at least two regions to provide a static air flow area and a dynamic air flow area, the dynamic air flow area being in fluid communication with the central lift air chamber to provide continuous air flow to the central lift air chamber and the static air flow area being in fluid communication with the skirt so that air flow enters the skirt to replenish air leaking from the skirt, the static air flow area having less air flow than the dynamic air flow area; andan air flow channel enclosed by and passing through an interior of the hull, the air flow channel having an air inlet receiving air from the environment independent of the lift air supply source and an outlet located upstream of and spaced apart from an inlet of the thrust air supply source. 2. The hovercraft of claim 1, further comprising at least one extension bar extending upwardly from the base of the hull into the lift air shroud to define the static air flow area within the lift air shroud, and a propeller having a plurality of blades located within the lift air shroud adjacent a top surface of the extension bar. 3. The hovercraft of claim 1, wherein the base includes an outer edge and an inner mounting rail spaced apart from the outer edge, the skirt being formed from a skirting material having a first end coupled to the outer edge of the base and a second end coupled to the inner mounting rail to define the inflatable skirt. 4. The hovercraft of claim 3, wherein the inner mounting rail intersects the central opening of the base to define at least two regions to provide the static air flow area and the dynamic air flow area. 5. The hovercraft of claim 4, further comprising at least one extension bar extending upwardly from the inner mounting rail and into the lift air shroud to define the static air flow area within the lift air shroud, and a propeller having a plurality of blades located within the lift air shroud adjacent a top surface of the extension bar. 6. The hovercraft of claim 2, further comprising an engine located in the lift air shroud to drive the propeller and provide an air supply to the static and dynamic air flow areas. 7. The hovercraft of claim 6, further comprising a support coupled to the lift air shroud to support the engine within the shroud. 8. The hovercraft of claim 2, further comprising a seal coupled to the top surface of the extension bar, the seal being located adjacent to the blades of the propeller. 9. The hovercraft of claim 1, wherein the lift air shroud is formed from a corrugated culvert. 10. The hovercraft of claim 1, wherein the base includes a central elevated portion located behind the central opening to support the hovercraft on the ground when the skirt is not inflated. 11. The hovercraft of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of struts coupled to the central elevated portion of the base. 12. The hovercraft of claim 10, wherein the base further includes a reinforced nose portion located between the forward end of the base and the central opening and a skid bar extending from the reinforced nose portion to a rear end portion of the central elevated portion of the base. 13. The hovercraft of claim 1, wherein the static air flow area is located at a higher position than the dynamic air flow area to reduce the likelihood of water entering the inflatable skirt when the hovercraft is operated on water. 14. The hovercraft of claim 1, wherein the base includes an outer edge, an inner mounting rail spaced apart from the outer edge, and a central elevated portion, the base including a sloped area between the inner mounting rail and the central elevated portion, the sloped area providing a region for the skirt to enter upon deflation of the skirt so that the weight of the hovercraft is supported by the central elevated portion. 15. The hovercraft of claim 4, wherein the inner mounting rail intersecting the central opening of the base defines a central dynamic air flow area and first and second side static air flow areas within the central opening of a base. 16. The hovercraft of claim 3, wherein the skirting material is a sheet of material having cutout sections to accommodate a shorter length of the inner mounting rail compared to an overall length of the outer edge of the base. 17. A hovercraft comprising: a hull having a base including a forward end, a rear end, and a central opening;a thrust air supply source coupled to the hull adjacent the rear end;an inflatable skirt coupled to an outer periphery of the base to define a central lift air chamber under the hull; anda lift air supply source coupled to the hull, the lift air supply source including a first means for providing dynamic air flow volume to the central lift air chamber to provide continuous lift air flow and means for providing static air flow volume to the inflatable skirt to replenish air leaking from the inflatable skirt, the static air flow volume being less than the dynamic air flow volume;and an air flow channel enclosed by and passing through an interior of the hull, the air flow channel having an air inlet receiving air from the environment independent of the first means and an outlet located upstream of and spaced apart from an inlet of the thrust air supply source. 18. A hovercraft comprising: a hull having a base including a forward end, a rear end, and an opening along a longitudinal centerline of the hull; a thrust air supply source coupled to the hull adjacent the rear end;an inflatable skirt coupled to an outer periphery of the base to define a central lift air chamber under the hull;a lift air supply source coupled to the hull, the lift air supply source including a lift air shroud coupled to the hull, the lift air shroud providing a first air outlet in fluid communication with the central lift air chamber through the opening in the base to provide continuous air flow to the central lift air chamber and a second air outlet in fluid communication with the skirt to replenish air leaking from the skirt; andan air flow channel enclosed by and passing through an interior of the hull, the air flow channel having an air inlet receiving air from the environment independent of the lift air supply source and an outlet located upstream of and spaced apart from an inlet of the thrust air supply source.